DCNS conducts first helicopter deck landing trials on FREMM Aquitaine

Posted On
Tuesday, 21 February 2012 18:36

a

Naval
Industry News - France

DCNS
conducts first helicopter deck landing trials on FREMM Aquitaine

DCNS
has achieved formal qualification of the FREMM frigate Aquitaine's flight
deck for operations with the Lynx helicopter. This milestone was reached
several months ahead of schedule after a successful deck landing campaign
at sea, organised by the French defence procurement agency (DGA) in
early February. Trials were conducted with a Lynx helicopter operated
by the French Navy.

Trials to qualify the flight deck of the first-of-class FREMM frigate
were conducted in early February and supervised by the DGA. French Navy
test pilots completed several series of approaches and as many as 50
deck landings with a Lynx five-tonne class helicopter. The operations
were a complete success. In particular, the pilots appreciated the absence
of turbulence above the flight deck in all landing positions.

"This qualification milestone further demonstrates the excellent
progress we are making on the programme," said Vincent Martinot-Lagarde,
FREMM programme manager. "DCNS teams stepped up their efforts
to ensure that all the equipment needed for deck landing trials on the
vessel was ready ahead of the initial schedule. This first qualification
of the FREMM flight deck was initially planned to take place after delivery."

DCNS FREMM
Frigate "Aquitaine" helicopter deck trials
(picture: DCNS)

As well as the high quality of the safety, communication
and navigation systems used for helicopter approach, landing and handling
operations, the DGA teams and French Navy crew appreciated the intuitive
layout of the flight deck control room used to coordinate helicopter
operations. The control room was designed with the aid of 3D tools and
offers unprecedented levels of comfort and usability.

Thanks to the concerted efforts of all the teams involved, FREMM frigate
Aquitaine has demonstrated its ability to launch and land Lynx helicopters.
The vessel's hangar area is designed to accommodate one of the NH90
Caiman heavy lift (10-tonne class) helicopters now in service with the
French Navy. The first deck landing trials with a Caiman will be conducted
in the coming weeks.